Halifax County United U12B Girls Soccer Team Named BMO Team of the Week

- Team is gold medal champion in its League Division

- Team provide mentoring for younger players and siblings on the soccer field

- Team now finalist for BMO Team of the Week grand prize which includes $125,000 field refurbishment

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - June 29, 2011) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this release.

BMO Financial Group announced today that the Halifax County United U12B Girls Soccer Team has been selected BMO Team of the Week. The team is now eligible to be the BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion and win $125,000 to upgrade their local soccer field.

"The Halifax County United U12B Girls Soccer Team are amazing young players who went undefeated last winter. They are gold medal champions of the U12 Metro Indoor Soccer League Division 2. The girls are talented and confident on any soccer field but play for pure enjoyment of the game," said Coach Kevin McKenzie.

"This spring, daily practices have been mostly outdoors in unusually cold and rainy weather which never dampened their enthusiasm. The girls are also wonderful role models who welcome many younger players and siblings to the field to show them how to move and nurture a love for the sport. The team triumphs because of its spirit, sportsmanship and dedication to fun, fitness and teamwork," added McKenzie.

The girls also take time out of their busy schedules to get involved in their community. They have provided backpacks of school supplies for local school children in Nova Scotia, participated in food drives and collected clothing and cleats for donation to the Edgars Youth Programme in Uganda.

"The HCU girls come from seven different communities in and around Halifax but when they step on the field or participate in community events they form an impressive team. They are well deserving of their BMO Team of the Week win," said Laura Charlton, District Vice-President, Halifax, BMO Bank of Montreal.

The Halifax County United U12B are the twelfth of 15 youth soccer teams (age 7-12) across Canada that will be selected between April 1 and June 30 as weekly BMO Team of the Week winners based on team pride, spirit, community commitment and passion for the game. The winners will then vie for the title of BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion, to be selected by the Canadian public through online voting as of August 1.

From April 1 to June 30, Canadian soccer coaches and parents can nominate their favourite soccer team by logging on to www.BMOsoccer.com.

A panel of judges will select a weekly winner and each BMO Team of the Week will receive $500, track suits and a gift to a charity of their choice.

Canadians can vote for their favourite BMO Team of the Week beginning in August. The Champion will receive $125,000 toward a field refurbishment, a trip to see a Toronto FC or Vancouver Whitecaps FC home game, and $5,000 to a charity of their choice.

About BMO and Soccer

BMO supports soccer across Canada, from youth players in local neighbourhoods and communities, to the professional level. Our deep commitment to "The Beautiful Game" is evident with our grassroots sponsorship of more than 900 youth teams nationally. The relationship continues with support of Canada's men's and women's national teams, professional teams (Toronto FC, Montreal Impact & Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and our soccer venue title sponsorship (BMO Field).